AD/R22/30 Amdt 6 Main Rotor Spindle (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

On the commencement date specified below, and for the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below repeals Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/R22/30 Amdt 5 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.001 (1) of CASR and subsection 33 (3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct an unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

Robinson Helicopter Company R22 Series Helicopters

AD/R22/30 Amdt 6 Main Rotor Spindle 4/2020

Applicability:

All Robinson Helicopter Company R22 helicopters fitted with main rotor spindle part number A158-1 and journal part number A106.

Requirement:

1.    Action in accordance with the Compliance Procedures of Robinson Helicopter Company Service Bulletin (SB) No. 60A, as in force from time to time.

2.    Visually inspect reworked spindle part number A158-1, and journal part number A106, for cracks in accordance with requirement 1 above.

Note 1:  This directive applies to all Robinson Helicopter Company R22 helicopters regardless of serial number. The Federal Aviation Administration of the United States of America (FAA) has determined that all R22 helicopters could be affected, not just those identified in the Requirement Document.

Note 2:  FAA AD 88-26-01R2 Amdt 39-6646 is consistent with this AD.

Note 3:  Robinson R22 Service Letter (SL) SL-68 refers to new part number A158-3 main rotor blade (MRB) spindles which are now available and are not subject to CASA AD/R22/30 Amdt 6 or FAA AD 88-26-01R2.

Compliance:

1.    Before 28 April 1989.

2.    Within 500 hours’ time in service after 23 March 2000, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 500 hours’ time in service.

This AD commences on 4 March 2020.

Background:

A crack was found in a main rotor spindle after a balance check of the main rotor could not be achieved. Upon rotor blade removal, a crack was found running from the spindle bolt hole to the spindle upper surface. Failure to detect the crack would have resulted in blade separation. Amendment 3 corrected the related FAA AD reference.

Amendment 6 is issued to clarify the inapplicability of CASA AD/R22/30 Amdt 6 and FAA 88-26-01R2 to later MRB spindles, part number A158-3. Robinson Helicopter Company R22 Service Letter SL-68 refers.

Amendment 5 was issued to clarify the applicability of the Airworthiness Directive. The related FAA AD applies to all R22 Helicopters, not just those identified by serial number in Robinson SB 60A.

Amendment 4 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 23 March 2000 and was issued to correct an anomaly in the repetitive inspection requirement.

Amendment 3 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 21 March 1991.

The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 10 November 1988.

Ben Wilson
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

18 February 2020